BOGOTA, Aug. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- At least 21 paramilitaries were killed in a clash with the Colombian army in Casanare province, Justo Pena, the commander of the 16th Army Brigade said on Saturday.

    "Twenty-one members of the paramilitary forces were killed in action. All of these individuals wore military uniforms. It was a tough fight and fortunately we could beat them," Pena said.

    The commander also said the number of killed paramilitaries could increase to 35, including a field commander.

    The clash occurred Friday in a rural area between the municipalities of Villanueva and Monterrey, some 300 km east of Bogota.

    The troops intercepted the paramilitaries when they were heading to Monterrey, said Pena.

    He added that the paramilitaries belonged to the United Self-Defense Forces of Casanare, which agreed to move its fighters to atemporary demobilization zone set up by Colombian President AlvaroUribe.

    In another development, the leftist Revolutionary Armed Froces of Colombia (FARC) abducted and killed Luis Zorro, mayor of Chameza, about 50 km from the battle on Friday, regional authorities said.

    Colombia has been plagued by a four-decade-old civil war, in which leftist rebels, far-right paramilitary groups and governmental troops fight one another with an average of 3,500 people killed every year. Enditem